When I was seven years old, Ioverheardmy mother tell one of her friends that the following day was to be her 30th birthday. Two thingsoccurredto me when I heard that: one, I had never beforerealizedthat my mother had a birthday; and two, I could notrecallher ever getting the birthday present.

Well, I could do something about that. I went into my bedroom openedpiggy bankand took out all the money that was inside:five nickels. That represented five weeks' worth of my allowance. Then I walked to the little store around the corner from my house, and I told theproprietor, Mr. Sawyer, that I wanted buy a birthday present for my mother.

He showed me everything in his store that could be had fora quarter. There wereseveralceramicfigurines. My mother would have loved those, but she already had a house full of them and I was the one who had todustthem once a week. Theydefinitelywould not do. There were also some small boxes ofcandy. My mother wasdiabetic, so I knew they would not beappropriate.

The last thing Mr. Sawyer showed me was a package ofbobby pins. My mother had beautiful long black hair andtwicea week she washed andpin curledit. When she took the pincurls down next day, she looked just like a movie star with those long dark curls cascadingaround her shoulders. So I decided those bobby pins would be the perfect gift for my mother. I gave Mr. Sawyer my five nickels, and he gave me the bobby pins.

Questions:

1.State whether the following statements are true or false.

a.Linda was seven years old when her mother was fifty years old.

b.Linda did not give her mother a box of candy as a birthday present because her mother was suffering from diabetes.

c.Linda had saved money for five weeks.

d.A box candy cost a nickel.

2.Who was the proprietor of the little store?

3.Who dusted the figurines in the house once a week?

4.How old was the writer?

5.What can you learn from the text?

6.How would you help your mother in her old age?

Q3. Read the following extract and answer the questions given below.

Whatever we do let’s try to do better. Our actions, our words, whatever it is, let us try to make them better and better. Success they say is a journey and not a destination. We can say, progress also is a journey and not a destination. Therefore, we need not feel complacent that we are doing fine. We must constantly be on the look for better performance.

If I want to thank someone I can say, “Thanks”. But suppose I say, “Thanks a lot,” wouldn’t it be better? Depending upon the time and the situation, we can try and improve this even further and say, “I am very grateful to you” or “you’ve been of great help. I thank you from the bottom of my heart!” and so on.

This is a simple case of expressing gratitude. But when we think a little more, we can learn to do or say things in a better way by giving some thought to our action or speech. I had an appointment with a person, who was senior to me in our erstwhile company. I was a bit late and trying to make amends I said, “I'm sorry I made you wait.” “Oh! It’s Ok,” he said and added, “It’s a pleasure waiting for you.” I felt flattered. One might argue that the other person might have said it without any thinking. Even then I would say that I like to hear such statement unless, of course, they were said sarcastically.

Questions:

1.What should we try to make better and better?

2.What must we be constantly on the lookout for?

3.Which statement did the writer say he liked to hear?

4.Write from the passage the different ways of expressing thankfulness.

5.What do you think, is the purpose of the text?

Q4. Read the following extract and answer the questions given below.

Thesuccessof thestrategicmissilelaunches andnuclear devicesmade people,especially those in the government,realisethat Dr. Kalam had agolden touch. There was growing feeling everywherethat India’sadvancesin theaerospace sectorweremainlydue to theeffortsof Dr. Kalam. The community ofscientists and intelligentsia in the country knew the work of this visionaryand theyexpressedtheviewthat Kalam’s services should beutilisedfurther. The Government alsofelttheneedto make use of histalentandexpertiseto harness technology for transforming IndianSociety.

The Governmentofferedhim thepostof Principal ScientificAdviserin November 1999. Even earlier, during the Pokhran tests period, he was serving simultaneously as the Chairman of TIFAC (Technology Information Forecasting and Assessment Council), anautonomous body under the Department of Technology. Themajor taskof TIFAC was to look ahead to the advances in technologies worldwide and to keep Indiaabreastof the changing times. In its tasks TIFAC networked with the government, industries, scientific and technological organisations, as well as financial institutions, and intellectuals.

Questions:

1.What was a growing feeling everywhere about India's advances in the aerospace sector?

2.What made people realise that Dr. Kalam had a golden touch?

3.How did the government utilise Dr Kalam's services?

4.When did the government offer Dr Kalam the post of Principal Scientific adviser?

5.What is TIFAC?

6.What are the most admirable qualities of Dr. Kalam?

Q5. Write ten lines about Myself.

Q6. Write an essay about Mumbai city.

Q7. Develop a story with the help of the points below. Suggest a suitable title: